Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20
The Grixt that is Daily Ground I'm the
Mill Of Justice.

Will Of Justice.
| OPENING OF THE CoURT-THE LAWYERS AND THEIR
| CLIENrs-THB JUDGE AND THE BAILIFF-rHE RoU-
TINE OF THE DAY.
Two iron-grated doors moan as they turn reluct-
antly on their hinges In the basement OF the Police
Court. The clock Is just striking z and the dingy
vehicle, In parlance known as "the van," some
times in familiarity termed MARIA has stopped
Its rumbng course in front OF the dark old build
Ing That has known such a varied career. Slowly
| the guard unlocks the strong door at the rear of
the van, and one by one emerge the creatures who
are to stand before the tribunal Old and young
white and black, men and women, such a mixture
Is seldom seen. Drunkards whose uneasy looks,
bleared eyes, and generally woe-begone appear
snce bespeak bad night In the staton.house cell;
men arrested on petty crimes, shouting, swearing,
stealing; women to be tried for bad tempers, for
QuarrelS for suspicion Of immortality. These are
features 81 the sa eroWI she wago IL ars
number OF boys, from l2 to 20 years. many sup for
ofYenses.
Some are hardened by their very familiarity with
the scene and the prospect; some look anrightedly
around as II fearful OF recognition by friends who
may nave come down thus early to see them alight
from their nrst trip in maria" One By one they
are hurried down few stone steps into the base
menu OF tne Old church, where the doors are yawn-
other the women. Then the doors clank back the
oOts are snot into the stills, and the prisoners now
await the opening OF the court.
PREPARING FOR THE DAY.
Meanwhile the large arched room above is be-
ginning to echo with the preparations the days
work, small knots or witnesses congregate and dis
cuSs In mun1ed whispers the events which have
called them here A few loungers stroll in and Sc
disappearing IN a little room on one side OF the
NAN CORRIDOR, where. before district attorney,
they swear In their Information" against their
prisoners Attorneys are early on the scene, nut
teriDg over the mass OF moral depravity. Scarce
does new conner appear but he is approached by
case In court today" When The answer is afiir.
native the pair will retire to the WALL and the at
torney and his prospective Client go over the case
walks In. new TO the scene. an old man, his hair
silver white aud his face furrOwed with wrinkles
SONY 81 IVY LACKS across the floor until IN the vicinity
words or question. The scribe shakes his head
and the lawyer sadly retreats The operation is
fortunate have already secured their clients, and
make the life OF the dOOrkeeper miserable by call
ing up the prisoners Tor consultation Seated side
Signs tney NIX the fee and formulate the defense
VOICES PROM BELOW.
scrap OF the conversation that Is carried on be-
tween the prisoners was thus caught by the re-
porter as he stood at the door:
Voice from the female cell:
Amt got no blood In there. We all is high toned in
here, an dOan' you fergit it,"
second voice, from male cell:
saint got no blood, is we? Well, we're gents as
comes up fur high crime and fur none other.
What Is you in there fur?"
"Pshaw! We-alls got two assaults In here-one
iur cottln an one for nghtin'. That's our STYLE
,nat IS Why dOan you all have some blood?
Niue Is the cuttin case, you bet, an got three
witnesses an she amt got none Come Outen that
box an, show yer blood, you common drunk"
Third voice, with authority:
III you people don't keep still I'll shut the door
and smother you. DO you hear7"
Inc other voices are awed into silence.
OPENING COURT.
A little after the criers begin to call forth in
ringing tones the names Of various witnesses
needed during the day, and to pack them away in
the dark close boxes at the front Of the court
room. Then the clerk comes hurry1ng in laden
with pOnderOus tome and the seal Of the court,
cases.
As soon as thisis done the Judge appears through
one OF the doors at the rear OF the room and takes
MS seat On the elevated platform by the side OF q
the room.
~Silence In the courtroom" shouts the crier.
Old formula:
..Oyez! oyez! oyez! all persons having business
the District OF Columbia viii. draw nigh and give
thelr attention, for the court is now in session."
the arc6 lon OF tns t Ges voice die
again. and does not cease until with a sharp rap
OF small feru,e upon the gate of the bar the
omcial announces that the trial Of the first case
.Call Jno. Jones." says the district attorney.
"Call Jno. Jones!" repeats the clerk, reading
Slowly and dramatically the aged balin trun-
dies out OF the room, into the railing OF the DOCK
and down the stairs.
"Jno. Jones!-Jno. Jones =, he shouts with length
eDed syllables.
"Jno. Jones! echoes the voice of the cell-keeper
down In the pit.
JOHN JONES APPEARS
After moment OF waiting the silence OF which
Is broken by mufiled exhOrtations to "Come On
John; hurry up" and the clanking OF the locks
OF the cell DOORS the door back OF the iron rail-
ing Is thrown open and John Jones steps before
white, Old or young; che may be male or female,
neat or ragged; but 1t Is John jones' who Is ready
10 answer for breach OF some one OF the NUM-
ctpal, moral or social laws.
Jonn Jones' you are charged with having on
the -th day OF August, 1887. been drunk and dis
orderly on the PUZZLE streets Are you guilty or
Sometimes John looks Goggedly Indifferent aud
mutters out his answer as though 1t mattered
Sometimes he does not wait to hear the Question
OF the clerk, but starts out with volubie state
ment, which is shut OF by the angry voice OF the
bailin warning him to "keep still and listen to
that gentleman"
Occasionally a John comes up who does not
answer at all, but stands as Though he were IN
another land, a land OF dreams, or OF beer, and
then the Case proceeds just IL the plea was mot
guilty."
When John says equity, SIR the course OF 1us-
lice Is brief but sure, and Johns stay In the court
room Is short. He goes back into the pit faced
with the fact that for his Indulgence in crime lie
VIII nave 10 deliver up some or his hard-earned
wealth or spend a few weeks In the seclusiOn OF
the wOrk-houSe or the jail
TRYING A CASE.
But when as Is usually the case the plea is that
OF innocence, the names of the witnesses are rap
Idly read by the clerk and repeated by the crer
until they are brought struggling forth, through
the gate and around, after much prompting to
the witness stand, where they are told TO 'stake
hold OF the book" All make cOnyuisive grab az
the small, black, greasy Bible that is held up to
them by the batun. The witnesses are reminded
10 listen to what the gentleman Is saying, which
Is about as follows:
"You, and each OF YOU do solemnly swear that the
testimony which you are about TO give in the case
and nothing but the truth, so help you God!"
AT this they are told to "kiss the book" which
they do with varying degrees OF JUNCTION or dis
gust. Some are careful TO give the volume q
sounding smack, which they may imagine Will
carry conviction OF their perfect Integrity Some
pretend TO bring 1t to their lips. while in reality
they only kiss their thumbs. Some supplement
the formula by fervid expressions Of their horror
OF prevarcaton, and some make habit OF repeat
Ing, with religious honesty, the phrase: $50 help
me, God!' sometimes an aged ''aunty" will be
hQrrorstrtcken at the suspicion which, she thinks
Is Implied by the necessity OF an oath. Once In a
while witness will affirm, instead Of swearing.
RxAXNING WITNESSES.
When the book has been passed around until It
has met the lips Of EACH the first witness Is called
to the stand and examined by the district attorney